County's Largest Job Fair will be held September 29th at Visalia Convention Center

Written by Sun-Gazette Newspaper

Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County hopes to connect 1,500 job seekers with nearly 2,000 jobs at 29th Annual Job Fair

VISALIA – Federal unemployment benefits expired this month, forcing an estimated 2.2 million Californians to seek work for the first time since the early months of the pandemic. That means an estimated 22,000 people in Tulare County will be looking for work when the Tulare County Job Fair opens its doors on Sept. 29.

The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County (WIB), in partnership with the Tulare County Employment Connection, will hold the 29th annual job fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at the Visalia Convention Center.

The event expects to connect an estimated 1,500 job seekers with businesses throughout the Central Valley. Attendees gain access to job leads, on-the-spot interviews, resume review, and an opportunity to discuss their qualifications and experience with local employers. More than 90 employers from multiple industries including health care, manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality and food services are scheduled to attend, representing more than 2,000 job opportunities. In addition to meeting with employers, job seekers will have the opportunity to network with local job placement organizations and educational institutions and learn about job training options. Attendees are encouraged to wear professional attire and bring multiple copies of their resume.

“Events like the Tulare County Job Fair, which connect the valley’s talented workers with employers looking to hire, are a critical part of our efforts to strengthen our local economy,” WIB executive director Adam Peck said. “As local businesses and workers recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, the job fair will help us build a stronger, more prosperous Tulare County.”

The job fair is a free event for job seekers. The event will be held in two sessions. The first session will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. and the second session from 1 to 3 p.m. In honor of their service to our nation, Veterans will be allowed to enter the job fair 30 minutes early. Job seekers are encouraged to preregister for the job fair at www.tularecountyjobs.com. The website includes several resources, including how to prepare for a job fair, what to bring, directions, transportation options, and COVID-19 updates. Masks will be required for all attendees, employers, and staff members.

This year the job fair will include partners who will provide additional resources for job seekers. Proteus Inc. will have their Mobile Resource Bus on site providing job seekers the opportunity to access computers, printers, and the internet. The mobile unit will allow job seekers to update resumes and fill out online applications on the spot.

In addition to the Proteus Mobile Resource Unit, Tulare County Health and Human Services will hold a vaccination event during the job fair in the Courtyard outside the Convention Center. Job seekers and members of the public who would like to get vaccinated can register in advance at myturn.ca.gov. Walk-ups are also being accepted. The vaccination event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To facilitate a safe event, and ensure the safety of our attendees, we will be following the latest mandates from the Tulare County Department of Health, the State of California, and the CDC. Masks will be made available to all attendees.

This project is funded in part by the WIB as well as the following sponsors: IBEW Local 100, Ruiz Foods, Harris Ranch Beef Company and Central Valley Meat Packing, College of the Sequoias, Sierra View Medical Center, Kaweah Health, United Staffing Associates, Graphic Packaging International, Hydrite Chemical Co, Career Development Institute, Tucoemas AS FC, Turning Point of Central California, Porterville College, California Dairies, Lazer Broadcasting, and Momentum Broadcasting.

For more information about the 29th Annual Tulare County Job Fair, contact the Employment Connection at 559-713-5190.